Roux Lab, Geneva
@rouxlab.bsky.social
A mix of physics and biology, understanding shapes in biology, from molecules to tissues.
http://www.orelrouxlab.org
http://www.orelrouxlab.org
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Today, our animation synthesizing decades of research on actin-mediated endocytosis in budding yeast was published:
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
The result of a fantastic Iwasa-Drubin lab collaboration.
@margotriggi.bsky.social @jiwasa.bsky.social
movie.biologists.com/video/10.124...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
The result of a fantastic Iwasa-Drubin lab collaboration.
@margotriggi.bsky.social @jiwasa.bsky.social
movie.biologists.com/video/10.124...
December 2, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Today, our animation synthesizing decades of research on actin-mediated endocytosis in budding yeast was published:
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
The result of a fantastic Iwasa-Drubin lab collaboration.
@margotriggi.bsky.social @jiwasa.bsky.social
movie.biologists.com/video/10.124...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
The result of a fantastic Iwasa-Drubin lab collaboration.
@margotriggi.bsky.social @jiwasa.bsky.social
movie.biologists.com/video/10.124...
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Un très grand plaisir d'avoir pu enfin (après 5 ans) voir @elisabethbik.bsky.social en face à face à l'UNIL.
Elle y donne en plus un séminaire aujourd'hui.
Elle y donne en plus un séminaire aujourd'hui.
December 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Un très grand plaisir d'avoir pu enfin (après 5 ans) voir @elisabethbik.bsky.social en face à face à l'UNIL.
Elle y donne en plus un séminaire aujourd'hui.
Elle y donne en plus un séminaire aujourd'hui.
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
All credits to the dreamteam that made this possible! what a pleasure and honor working with these people! 🥰
@diorgeps.bsky.social @mhakala.bsky.social @juanmagararc.bsky.social @joshuatran.bsky.social @mudgal17.bsky.social @Carlos Marcuello @Andrea Merino
@diorgeps.bsky.social @mhakala.bsky.social @juanmagararc.bsky.social @joshuatran.bsky.social @mudgal17.bsky.social @Carlos Marcuello @Andrea Merino
December 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
All credits to the dreamteam that made this possible! what a pleasure and honor working with these people! 🥰
@diorgeps.bsky.social @mhakala.bsky.social @juanmagararc.bsky.social @joshuatran.bsky.social @mudgal17.bsky.social @Carlos Marcuello @Andrea Merino
@diorgeps.bsky.social @mhakala.bsky.social @juanmagararc.bsky.social @joshuatran.bsky.social @mudgal17.bsky.social @Carlos Marcuello @Andrea Merino
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
The crucial test: We fused Heimdall Hofund to a fission-defective yeast ESCRT-III protein (Did2). This chimera restored Mup1 trafficking to vacuoles back to wt! A short amphipathic helix, present in Asgard and retained as fragments in eukaryotes, acts as a minimal membrane fission trigger!
December 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
The crucial test: We fused Heimdall Hofund to a fission-defective yeast ESCRT-III protein (Did2). This chimera restored Mup1 trafficking to vacuoles back to wt! A short amphipathic helix, present in Asgard and retained as fragments in eukaryotes, acts as a minimal membrane fission trigger!
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Eukaryotic ESCRT-IIIA paralogs, known to form heteropolymers, retain Hofund elements at their N-termini.
In yeast, mutating these elements blocks ESCRT-III-dependent Mup1 transport to vacuoles.
So these elements matter in eukaryotes too.
In yeast, mutating these elements blocks ESCRT-III-dependent Mup1 transport to vacuoles.
So these elements matter in eukaryotes too.
December 1, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Eukaryotic ESCRT-IIIA paralogs, known to form heteropolymers, retain Hofund elements at their N-termini.
In yeast, mutating these elements blocks ESCRT-III-dependent Mup1 transport to vacuoles.
So these elements matter in eukaryotes too.
In yeast, mutating these elements blocks ESCRT-III-dependent Mup1 transport to vacuoles.
So these elements matter in eukaryotes too.
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Is this Asgard-specific, or conserved with their eukaryotic paralogs?
Hard to tell, since the exact molecular mechanism of fission by eukaryotic ESCRT-III remains blurry, probably due to its complexity.
Let’s figure it out!
Hard to tell, since the exact molecular mechanism of fission by eukaryotic ESCRT-III remains blurry, probably due to its complexity.
Let’s figure it out!
December 1, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Is this Asgard-specific, or conserved with their eukaryotic paralogs?
Hard to tell, since the exact molecular mechanism of fission by eukaryotic ESCRT-III remains blurry, probably due to its complexity.
Let’s figure it out!
Hard to tell, since the exact molecular mechanism of fission by eukaryotic ESCRT-III remains blurry, probably due to its complexity.
Let’s figure it out!
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Meet Hofund, the N-terminal amphipathic helix of 15 aa in Heimdall ESCRT-IIIA (named after Heimdall’s sword).
How do we know Hofund is the molecular trigger for fission?
Remove Hofund → ESCRT-IIIA loses fission activity.
Add Hofund alone → uncontrolled fission.
How do we know Hofund is the molecular trigger for fission?
Remove Hofund → ESCRT-IIIA loses fission activity.
Add Hofund alone → uncontrolled fission.
December 1, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Meet Hofund, the N-terminal amphipathic helix of 15 aa in Heimdall ESCRT-IIIA (named after Heimdall’s sword).
How do we know Hofund is the molecular trigger for fission?
Remove Hofund → ESCRT-IIIA loses fission activity.
Add Hofund alone → uncontrolled fission.
How do we know Hofund is the molecular trigger for fission?
Remove Hofund → ESCRT-IIIA loses fission activity.
Add Hofund alone → uncontrolled fission.
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Through membrane fission! We show in vitro that the Asgard Heimdallarchaeota (Heimdall) ESCRT-IIIA subunit is inherently capable of triggering fission upon subunit turnover driven by ATP hydrolysis by Vps4.
And the key question: what actually destabilizes the membrane when ESCRT-IIIA turns over?
And the key question: what actually destabilizes the membrane when ESCRT-IIIA turns over?
December 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Through membrane fission! We show in vitro that the Asgard Heimdallarchaeota (Heimdall) ESCRT-IIIA subunit is inherently capable of triggering fission upon subunit turnover driven by ATP hydrolysis by Vps4.
And the key question: what actually destabilizes the membrane when ESCRT-IIIA turns over?
And the key question: what actually destabilizes the membrane when ESCRT-IIIA turns over?
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
In a recent work, @buzzbaum.bsky.social and colleagues showed an Asgard archaeon with internal vesicles.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How might Asgard ESCRT-III have contributed to compartmentalization?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How might Asgard ESCRT-III have contributed to compartmentalization?
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
The emergence of eukaryotes from a merger between an archaeon and a bacterial cell ∼two billion years ago involved a profound change in cellular organisation. While the order in which different featur...
www.biorxiv.org
December 1, 2025 at 9:11 AM
In a recent work, @buzzbaum.bsky.social and colleagues showed an Asgard archaeon with internal vesicles.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How might Asgard ESCRT-III have contributed to compartmentalization?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How might Asgard ESCRT-III have contributed to compartmentalization?
Fantastic work from Javier @javierespadas.bsky.social in collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and @kaksonen.bsky.social labs, thank you Chris Toret, thank you Diorge @diorgeps.bsky.social!
New preprint from the lab!!🎉
We show that Asgard archaea ESCRT-III proteins can trigger membrane fission and reveal its molecular mechanism, offering clues to how these cells may have built internal compartments. But do these organisms even have these compartments?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We show that Asgard archaea ESCRT-III proteins can trigger membrane fission and reveal its molecular mechanism, offering clues to how these cells may have built internal compartments. But do these organisms even have these compartments?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Molecular basis for cellular compartmentalization by an ancient membrane fission mechanism
The emergence of cell compartmentalization depends on membrane fission to create the endomembrane compartments. In eukaryotes, membrane fission is commonly executed by ESCRT-III, a protein complex con...
www.biorxiv.org
December 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Fantastic work from Javier @javierespadas.bsky.social in collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and @kaksonen.bsky.social labs, thank you Chris Toret, thank you Diorge @diorgeps.bsky.social!
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Thanks to all the team at @rouxlab.bsky.social and abroad: @pauguillamat.bsky.social @caterinatomba.bsky.social @giodang.bsky.social @colomlab.bsky.social @lizhinde.bsky.social @javierespadas.bsky.social and many more
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Thanks to all the team at @rouxlab.bsky.social and abroad: @pauguillamat.bsky.social @caterinatomba.bsky.social @giodang.bsky.social @colomlab.bsky.social @lizhinde.bsky.social @javierespadas.bsky.social and many more
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Overall, the work shows that tension gradients arise from the combination of actin dynamics and strong cell–substrate adhesion, rather than from migration itself.
Link: rdcu.be/eRTQA
Link: rdcu.be/eRTQA
Adherent cells sustain membrane tension gradients independently of migration
Nature Communications - This study shows that adherent cells maintain membrane tension gradients even without moving. Using a fluorescent probe, the authors reveal that actin and adhesion forces...
rdcu.be
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Overall, the work shows that tension gradients arise from the combination of actin dynamics and strong cell–substrate adhesion, rather than from migration itself.
Link: rdcu.be/eRTQA
Link: rdcu.be/eRTQA
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
We accompanied this dynamic live Flipper-TR FLIM imaging with lipid diffusion analysis, spatial lipidomics (shown below), and cool in vitro reconstitutions of tension gradients using supported lipid bilayers that are expanding
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
We accompanied this dynamic live Flipper-TR FLIM imaging with lipid diffusion analysis, spatial lipidomics (shown below), and cool in vitro reconstitutions of tension gradients using supported lipid bilayers that are expanding
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
A key result: adherent cells maintain long-range membrane tension gradients even when they are not migrating! (micropatterned cells below)
In contrast, non-adherent migrating cells *do not* show these gradients.
In contrast, non-adherent migrating cells *do not* show these gradients.
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A key result: adherent cells maintain long-range membrane tension gradients even when they are not migrating! (micropatterned cells below)
In contrast, non-adherent migrating cells *do not* show these gradients.
In contrast, non-adherent migrating cells *do not* show these gradients.
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Microfluidic pumping with active nematics! Self-organized and self-sustained. No external pumps.
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
Active nematic pumps | PNAS
Microfluidics involves the manipulation of flows at the microscale, typically requiring
external power sources to generate pressure gradients. Alte...
www.pnas.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Microfluidic pumping with active nematics! Self-organized and self-sustained. No external pumps.
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
Maria Tettamanti shows that inhibition of TORC2 by the small amphipath PalmC induces the TORC2-dependent internalization of sterols. Congrats to Maria and all coworkers involved, and to EMBOj for the efficient review process: use review commons! @biology-unige.bsky.social @sciencesunige.bsky.social
Yeast cells utilize a TORC2 feedback loop for plasma membrane adaptation to mechanical stress, with increased sterol transport from plasma membrane to endoplasmic reticulum activating TORC2 signaling
Robbie Loewith, Aurélien Roux @rouxlab.bsky.social and coworkers
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Robbie Loewith, Aurélien Roux @rouxlab.bsky.social and coworkers
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Maria Tettamanti shows that inhibition of TORC2 by the small amphipath PalmC induces the TORC2-dependent internalization of sterols. Congrats to Maria and all coworkers involved, and to EMBOj for the efficient review process: use review commons! @biology-unige.bsky.social @sciencesunige.bsky.social
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Etienne @membramics-lab.bsky.social is very happy to visit @rouxlab.bsky.social in Geneva! great people, great projects, good memories...
November 7, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Etienne @membramics-lab.bsky.social is very happy to visit @rouxlab.bsky.social in Geneva! great people, great projects, good memories...
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Congratulations @centriolelab.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social and @gautamdey.bsky.social for your publication in @cp-cell.bsky.social: Charting the landscape of #cytoskeletal diversity in #microbial eukaryotes #Expansion #Microscopy @sciencesunige.bsky.social
www.unige.ch/medias/en/20...
Congratulations @centriolelab.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social and @gautamdey.bsky.social for your publication in @cp-cell.bsky.social: Charting the landscape of #cytoskeletal diversity in #microbial eukaryotes #Expansion #Microscopy @sciencesunige.bsky.social
www.unige.ch/medias/en/20...
November 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Congratulations @centriolelab.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social and @gautamdey.bsky.social for your publication in @cp-cell.bsky.social: Charting the landscape of #cytoskeletal diversity in #microbial eukaryotes #Expansion #Microscopy @sciencesunige.bsky.social
www.unige.ch/medias/en/20...
Congratulations @centriolelab.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social and @gautamdey.bsky.social for your publication in @cp-cell.bsky.social: Charting the landscape of #cytoskeletal diversity in #microbial eukaryotes #Expansion #Microscopy @sciencesunige.bsky.social
www.unige.ch/medias/en/20...
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
*ALL*source data and Python notebooks are available (you can reproduce all figures!)
🔗 doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...
We hope this helps make lifetime analysis transparent and comparable across setups.
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@rouxlab.bsky.social
#FLIM #FlipperTR #Microscopy #OpenScience
🔗 doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...
We hope this helps make lifetime analysis transparent and comparable across setups.
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@rouxlab.bsky.social
#FLIM #FlipperTR #Microscopy #OpenScience
Data and codes
Data and codes corresponding to the preprint:
doi.org
October 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
*ALL*source data and Python notebooks are available (you can reproduce all figures!)
🔗 doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...
We hope this helps make lifetime analysis transparent and comparable across setups.
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@rouxlab.bsky.social
#FLIM #FlipperTR #Microscopy #OpenScience
🔗 doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...
We hope this helps make lifetime analysis transparent and comparable across setups.
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@rouxlab.bsky.social
#FLIM #FlipperTR #Microscopy #OpenScience
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
🚨 New preprint out!
“Fluorescence lifetime estimation: a practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM” with Tithi Mandal and @rouxlab.bsky.social
We benchmark and describe step-by-step Flipper-TR FLIM measurements across different set-ups and and strategies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
“Fluorescence lifetime estimation: a practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM” with Tithi Mandal and @rouxlab.bsky.social
We benchmark and describe step-by-step Flipper-TR FLIM measurements across different set-ups and and strategies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Fluorescence lifetime estimation: a practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM
Flipper-TR is a membrane dye sensitive to lipid packing widely used to probe membrane tension in live cells via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). However, no consensus currently exists ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
🚨 New preprint out!
“Fluorescence lifetime estimation: a practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM” with Tithi Mandal and @rouxlab.bsky.social
We benchmark and describe step-by-step Flipper-TR FLIM measurements across different set-ups and and strategies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
“Fluorescence lifetime estimation: a practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM” with Tithi Mandal and @rouxlab.bsky.social
We benchmark and describe step-by-step Flipper-TR FLIM measurements across different set-ups and and strategies.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
I am pleased to 📣 today’s superb thesis defense by Christian Schroer on “Chemical strategies for studying lipid signaling and transport”. Part of his work was recently published in the JLR; the other part will follow soon. A very proud and somewhat tipsy “Doktorvater” 🥂
September 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I am pleased to 📣 today’s superb thesis defense by Christian Schroer on “Chemical strategies for studying lipid signaling and transport”. Part of his work was recently published in the JLR; the other part will follow soon. A very proud and somewhat tipsy “Doktorvater” 🥂
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
Undergraduate/internship/master's thesis position: jobs.helsinki.fi/job-invite/4...
Research Assistant or Master Thesis worker, group Hakala
Research Assistant or Master Thesis worker, group Hakala
jobs.helsinki.fi
September 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Undergraduate/internship/master's thesis position: jobs.helsinki.fi/job-invite/4...
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
PhD student position: jobs.helsinki.fi/job-invite/4...
Doctoral Researcher, group Hakala
Doctoral Researcher, group Hakala
jobs.helsinki.fi
September 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
PhD student position: jobs.helsinki.fi/job-invite/4...
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
I have a PhD student and an undergrad student positions open at the Institute of Biotechnology @helsinki.fi We are using reconstitution, cell and structural biology to study protein-membrane interactions and membrane microdomain formation. Links to calls below! Feel free to drop a message and share!
September 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I have a PhD student and an undergrad student positions open at the Institute of Biotechnology @helsinki.fi We are using reconstitution, cell and structural biology to study protein-membrane interactions and membrane microdomain formation. Links to calls below! Feel free to drop a message and share!
Reposted by Roux Lab, Geneva
"Impaired hematopoiesis and embryonic lethality at midgestation of mice lacking both lipid transfer proteins VPS13A and VPS13C" out now in PLOS Biology
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Impaired hematopoiesis and embryonic lethality at midgestation of mice lacking both lipid transfer proteins VPS13A and VPS13C
VPS13A and VPS13C are bridge-like lipid transport proteins with distinct subcellular localization and function, and their absence is linked with chorea-acanthocytosis and Parkinson's disease, respecti...
journals.plos.org
September 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"Impaired hematopoiesis and embryonic lethality at midgestation of mice lacking both lipid transfer proteins VPS13A and VPS13C" out now in PLOS Biology
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...